JERUSALEM - Israel's foreign minister said Saturday that the re-election of hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad highlighted the urgent need for the West to forcefully act against Tehran's nuclear program.
JERUSALEM – Israel's foreign minister said Saturday that the re-election of hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad highlighted the urgent need for the West to forcefully act against Tehran's nuclear program.
Israel regards Iran as its most dangerous adversary and is particularly wary of Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly called for the Jewish State to be wiped off the map. Israel, like the United States, accuses Iran of aiming to develop weapons under the cover of a nuclear power program. Iran denies that.
"The problem Iran poses to the international community is not of a personal nature, but rather is derived from its policies," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement.
"Regardless, given the continued Iranian policies, and particularly following the victory and continued rule of Ahmadinejad, the international community must continue to act in an uncompromising manner to stop Iran from going nuclear, stop its support for terror organizations and its undermining of Middle East stability," he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Iran's nuclear program, rather than Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, should be the main foreign policy concern of Western governments. Israel has been skeptical of the Obama administration's aim of engaging in dialogue with Iran rather than threatening sanctions and military action.
Friction has also been growing between Israel and the U.S. over Netanyahu's refusal to endorse the idea of Palestinian statehood and a settlement freeze that is sought by President Barack Obama.
Netanyahu is to deliver a major policy speech Sunday to clarify his positions. The re-election of Ahmadinejad could strengthen his arguments, however his aides have been keeping a low-profile before the address and have not indicated what, if any, effect the Iranian election will have.
Authorities in Iran declared Saturday that Ahmadinejad had been re-elected in a landslide, though his opponent, reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi, claimed fraud and threatened to challenge results that he denounced as "treason."
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, visiting the West Bank town of Ramallah, said he did not think there would be any change in the American policy toward Iran "because the same person will be there."
"Hopefully, he'll moderate his position," Carter said of Ahmadinejad, after a meeting he held with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
The Palestinians were also watching the Iranian vote closely. Iran is the main backer of Hamas, the Islamic militant group that overran Gaza two years ago, ousting forces loyal to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas has accused Iran in the past of meddling in Palestinian affairs and making Palestinian reconciliation more difficult.
An Abbas aide, Saeb Erekat, hinted at Iran's role Saturday. "We want Iran to take the side of Palestine, not this faction or that faction," he said.
Hamas, on the other hand, rejoiced in Ahmadinejad's victory.
"The outcome of the election reflects the desire of the Iranian people to continue in the same line," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. "We can't forget Iran's role in supporting and strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of all challenges."
Earlier, two senior Israeli politicians said the re-election of Ahmadinejad marked a severe blow to Middle East peace.
"If we had any shred of hope for change in Iran, the re-election of Ahmadinejad demonstrates the increasing Iranian threat," Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said in a statement.
However, Ayalon added that there was no difference between the incumbent and Mousavi concerning "the nuclear issue and terror," referring to Iran's support for Hamas and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Vice Premier Silvan Shalom, who also serves as Israel's minister for regional cooperation, said in a statement: "The election results in Iran are blowing up in the face of those who thought that Iran is built for real dialogue with the free world, concerning its nuclear program."
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